plate no. 9845

Doncaster Gold Cup

oilRomanticismanimal paintinghorsesjockeysracegrassskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice painting dynamic figures in motion and creating atmospheric perspective in the background. It also provides an opportunity to study color mixing for realistic animal depictions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the horses and jockeys.
step 02
Block in the sky and ground with thin washes of color, establishing the overall value structure.
step 03
Start painting the horses, beginning with the darkest values and gradually adding highlights.
step 04
Pay close attention to the anatomy and musculature of the horses to convey a sense of movement.
step 05
Paint the jockeys, focusing on their clothing and posture.
step 06
Add details to the background, such as the trees and fence, using lighter values to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Refine the details of the horses and jockeys, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the reins and whips.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna with white to create the various shades of brown for the horses. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and yellow ochre and cadmium red for the jockeys' clothing.

techniques